LIV Golf star begins quest for Masters return after three-year absence
LIV Golf star Marc Leishman is teeing it up at the Western Australia Open as he looks to attend all four majors next season and to come out victorious in December
Marc Leishman is playing in Western Australia for the first time in 20 years at the Western Australia Open at Mount Lawley Golf Club.
LIV Golf star Leishman has three top-10 finishes at Augusta National, but has been absent from the Masters for three consecutive years. Leishman has slid to 486th in the world rankings, but is still considered the highest-ranked player this week at the historic WA Open.
This event will be the beginning of his comeback tour, as he looks ahead to the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne in December, and the winner of that event earns an invitation to the Masters. "I’m playing obviously here this week," he said.
"I go to the Philippines Monday morning for an International Series event up there and then I’ve got three weeks off and Saudi Arabia. I’ve got the Saudi International, Aussie Open, Aussie PGA.
“I didn’t want to not play tournament golf for three months leading into an Australian Open at Royal Melbourne particularly, a course I love.
“I wanted to stay sharp, and this is a tournament that I can do that at on a golf course that is probably going to play similar to what Royal Melbourne is with how firm it’s going to be and the way it’s set up.”
Leishman is familiar with victories, as the six-time PGA Tour winner is the only player from Ripper GC to win an individual title on LIV Golf this season.
He also had one of his best seasons on LIV Golf as he finished 13th in the standings. Leishman is hoping to just correct a few things and then find himself at some of the majors in 2026.
“If I can basically keep my butt back and straighten my left knee a little earlier in the downswing, it helps me hold my posture and the bad shots are better,” said Leishman.
“So professional golf, like everyone can hit. The good shots are the same.
"Everyone can hole a wedge or hit a good shot to 10 feet, but it’s the bad shots that I think cut out the big numbers.
“If your drive can miss the fairway by five yards instead of 15, that’s a huge difference and that cuts out the big mistakes, so that’s what we’re working towards.
“The courses we play are very tough and quite narrow off the tee.
"With the driver, hopefully the swing changes will help that and give me more opportunities to have with my iron game."